Acetylene-gas generator.



P. J. MOSS.

AGETYLBNE GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1a. 1908.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

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AGETYLENE GAS GEN BRATOR.

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'rnn s mrns FATE ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. Moss, a citizen of the United States,residing at Conneaut Lake, in the county of Crawford and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAcetylene-Gas Generators, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to apparatus for generating gas fromcalcium carbid, the purpose being to provide a machine which may beoperated with safety and prevent the house, building or structure beingpermeated with the disagreeable odors arising from the machine whenremoving the residue and recharging, as well as to provide a machinewhich, in cold'weather, will be prevented from freezing.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the meansfor effecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to difierent forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an acetylene gas machine, embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, the cap and cover beingremoved. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 -3 of Fig. 1,parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4% ofFig. 2, looking to the left as indicated by the arrow. Fig. 5 is avertical section of a portion of one side of the machine, bringing outclearly the relation of the several parts.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The tank 1 for containing water and the operating parts may be of anycapacity and construction and is preferably of wood and is locatedoutside of the house, building or other structure to be supplied withgas and set into the ground. The tank is closed by means of a cover 2and a cap 3, the latter afl'ording additional security and preventingfrost in cold weather from reaching the interior and interfering withthe works of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 18, 1908.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

Serial No. 416,505.

the machine. The tank is supplied with water 4' to within a shortdistance of the top thereof, said water being furnished from a suitablesource by means of a pipe 5. The gas bell 6 is located in the upperportion of the tank and mounted upon a support 7 and is adapted to riseand fall, being directed in its movements by means of guide rods 8 whichproject upward from the support 7 and pass through keepers at the sidesof the bell. The bell 6 is open at its lower end and is located directlyabove the generator. A rod or bar 9 provided at the lower end of thebell 6' serves to operate the valve by means of which the outflow of thegas from the generator to the bell is controlled. The gas may be letfrom the bell 6 either by means of a tube 10 Fig. 1 or a pipe 11 Fig. 5.A tube 10 is flexible and one end connects with a nipple or coupling atthe upper end of the bell 6 and its opposite end connects with a pipe12. A pipe 13 connects with the pipe 12 and establishes communicationbetween said pipe 12 and the gas fixtures in the house, building or thelike to be supplied with gas from the machine. A drip pipe 14 connectsat its upper end with the pipe 12 at about the juncture of the pipe 13therewith and terminates a short distance from the bottom of the tank 1so as to discharge therein any water of condensation or other impuritiesthat may be eliminated from the gas in its passage through the pipe 12to the pipe 18. The pipe 11 extends vertically into the bell 6 andterminates a short distance from the top thereof when the bell isresting upon the support 7. The main or service pipe is adapted to beconnected with the lower end of the pipe 11 in any manner. It will beunderstood that the gas may pass from the bell either through the tube10, pipe 12 and service pipe 13 to the fixtures or it may enter theupper end of the pipe 11 and pass downward therethrough and. to theservice pipe coimected therewith, thence to the fixtures according towhich form of gas outlet is used. A float 15 is arranged within thebell. and has an opening to receive the pipe 1.1. The purpose ofthefloat 15 is to act as a battle to cause the gas bubbling upward tospread outward before entering either the tube 10 or the pipe 11.

The generator consists of a tank 16which is provided at its upper endwith a valve 17 adapted to open downward and to close upward, said valvebeing operated by means of a lever 18, one end of which extends into thepath of the rod or bar 9 to be depressed thereby and open the valve whenthe bell 6 is at the limit of its downward movement. A series of pans 19are arranged within the tank 16, one above the other, the upper end ofone pan being closed by the lower portion of the pan next above. Aquantity of calcium carbid is placed in each pan 19, as in dicated at20. Each of the pans is pro vided in a side with a series of openings 21arranged at different levels, said openings providing for ingress ofwater and egress of gas. The openings 21 are companitively small and byhaving them arranged at different levels the water is admitted graduallyto the pans and as it rises it covers one or more of the openings 21.The tank 16 is provided in a side near its bottom with a series of smallopenings 21. The water is adapted to enter the tank through one or moreof the openings 21 and reaches the carbid in the pans-19 through theopenings 21 formed in the sides thereof. lVhen the bell (3 is at itslowest position, the valve 17 open, thereby permitting *ater to enterthe tank through one or more of the openings 21. The gas formed passesout through the opening closed by the valve 17 and enters the bell ('3.\Vhen the bell rises, any gas continuing to be evolved from the carbidpasses outward through the openings 21 near the bottom of the tank 16and bubbles upward through the water contained in the tank 1 and entersthe hell 6. The internal pressure within the upper portion of the tank16, when the valve 17 is closed, is suiiicient to prevent water enteringthe tank through the openings 21 until the valve 17 is again opened whenthe bell 6 reaches its lowermost position. The generator is locateddirectly beneath the bell 6 so that the gas escaping therefrom andbubbling upward through the water 4 will enter the bell 6 and accumulatetherein. A support 22 receives the generator and has a two-foldmovement, the one a horizontally swinging motion and the other avertical movement. As the support 22 is swung horizontally, thegenerator is either brought beneath the bell (S or moved to a positionto clear said bell. The vertical movement of the support 22 brings thegenerator to the upper portion of the tank 1 to -admit of residue beingremoved from the pans 19 and the same to be supplied with fresh carbid.The support 22 is in the nature of a shelf or bracket and the generatoris secured thereto, suitable holding or clamp means being provided. Asshown, clamp members 23 are employed and attached at their lower ends tothe support and their upper ends are bent to engage over the top of thetank 16, said ends being prevented from outward displacement by means ofa tie 24; and consisting of a rod having opposite ends bent to engageextensions at the upper ends of the clamp members 23. A bar is connectedwith the support 22 and is of a. length to extend the top of the tank 1when the support 22 is at its lowest position. To insure proper positionof the parts, the bar 25 is mounted to move vertically and to swinghorizontally upon a guide rod 26 which is supported at its ends both atthe top and at the bottom of the tank 1. The bar is provided withopenings 27 which are adapted to be engaged by means of a suitable catch28 so as to hold the support in the required adjusted position. Aprojection 25) extends outward from the support 22 and is adapted toengage under a rod 30, said rod being provided at one end with a loop 31into which the projection 22) fits, thereby holding the support inproper position and against movement in any direction. The rod 30 isspaced a short distance from the bottom of the tank 1 and is so arrangedthat a portion adjacent to the loop 31 extends into the path of theprojection 21) so as to extend over the same when the support 22 ismoved down- 'ard to its lowest position and swung horizontally towardthe loop 31. When the projection 29 is in register with the loop 31, itis caused to enter the same by a slight upward movement of the support,thereby lixing the position of the latter. as herein stated.

Any overproduction of gas escapes by means of a vent pipe 212 whichprojects above the ground and the upper end of the tank. A short pipe 33fitted to the lower end of the bell (S is adapted to make connectionwith the lower end of the vent pipe 32 when the bell 6 is at the limitof its upward n'iovement, thereby establishing communication between thebell and the vent so as to relieve the machine of abnormal internalpressure and prevent an explosion or disastrous results.

It is to be understood that both pipes 10 and 11 are not used in thesame machine, the pipe 10 being employed when the service pipe leadingto the house is high, and the pipe 11 being used when the main pipeleading to the house is low.

In order that the level of the water in the tank may be uniform, saidtank is provided with an overflow 3 1.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a bellfor collecting the gas, a generator located underneath the bell, a valveat the upper end of the generator controlled by the vertical movenn-ultof the bell, and a support upon which the generator is mounted. thegenerator being movable with the support. and the support being adaptedto swing horizontally to bring the lZZO generator beneath the bell fie aposition to clear the same and to move vertically to elevate thegenerator to convenient position for cleaning and charging or to lowerthe 85111116 into a position to swing beneath the be] 2. In combinationa bell adapted to receive a quantity of gas and adapted to rise andfall, a generator arranged beneaththe bell and provided with a valveadapted to be operated by the vertical movement of said bell, a supportfor the generator adapted to swing horizontally and to move vertically,the generator being mounted upon said support, and movable therewith,and means for securing the support in position underneath the bell.

3. In combination with a tank for containing a quantity of water, a bellmounted in the tank and adapted to rise and fall and open at its lowerend, a generator arranged beneath the bell within the lower portion ofthe tank, a valve in the upper portion of the generator, and adapted tobe controlled and to move vertically, the generator being mounted uponsaid support and movable therewith, a projection extending from saidsupport, and means fitted to the lower portion of the tank to cooperatewith said projection and support to secure the latter in properposition.

In testlmony whereof I affix my signature m presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK J. MOSS.

Witnesses:

Loom DENNIS, WALLACE E. HALL.

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